Silo container respectively silo construction

ABSTRACT

A silo construction including an outer framework and at least a pair of upper and lower supporting rings carried by this outer framework. A container unit is provided with top and bottom components as well as with a cylindrical wall component extending therebetween. This unit is composed at least in part of a foldable sheet material. A clamping structure clamps the unit to the supporting rings.

United States Patent [191 Hillinger et al.

[ Jan. 23, 1973 [s41 SILO CONTAINER RESPECTIVELY siL CONSTRUCTION [75]Inventors: Bruno Hillinger, Johann Ni kowitz,

Michael Schwarz, all of Vienna, Austria [73] Assignee:Waagner-BiroAlitiengesellscliati,

22 Filed: Feb .25, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 118,787

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 12, l970 Austria ..2336/70[52] US. Cl. ..52/63, 52/197, 52/222, I 52/248 [51] Int. Cl ..E04h 7/24,EO4b 1/347 [58] Field of Search ..52/63, 197, 194, I92, 248; 99/235 S;214/17 R, 17 A, 17 B', 17 C; 222/203, 202

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,065,237 6/1913 Graham..52/63 1,297,379 3/1919 MacDonald ..52/63 1,473,845 11/1923 Gardon..52/63 2,838,805 6/1958 Shepherd ..53/l97 X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 994,182 6/1965 Great Britain "52/1927 3/1969 Great Britain..52/l97 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Att0rneySteinberg & Blake (57]ABSTRACT A silo construction including an Outer framework and at leasta. pair of upper and lower supporting rings carried by this outerframework. A container unit is provided with top and bottom componentsas well as with a cylindrical wall component extending therebetween'.This unit is composed at least in part of a foldable sheet material. Aclamping structure clamps the unit to the supporting rings.-

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJA?! 23 1975 3,712,002 SHEET 2 OF 2SILO CONTAINER RESPECTIVELY SILO CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to structures for storing bulkmaterial of all types.

In particular, the present invention relates to silos.

The present invention relates to relatively large silo installationsadapted to have an interior material-holding content on the order ofmore than I50 cubic meters.

Modern economic conditions niake it essential for many purposes thatthere be on hand storage space in the form of storage galleries orcontainers for the purpose of storing solid or liquid industrial bulkmaterials, such as, for example, food supplies. Most storage containersprovided at the present time for this purpose are made of steel andconcrete, metal, or plastic materials, such plastic materials being, forexample, polyester resins reinforced with glass fibers. The manufactureof storage units of this type having a capacity on the order of 150cubic meters and a diameter of 3,500 mm make it essential to have 60-90percent of the construction operations at the site of the storageinstallation. When constructing silos made of steel and concreteapproximately 90 percent of the building operations are required at thesite while when using metal silos approximately 60 percent of theconstruction operations are required to take place at the final locationof the silo. Moreover, the setting up of storage installations of thistype requires a considerable amount of auxiliary structures such asscaffolding and the like as well as highly qualified personnel to carryout the individual assembly operations. The progress made during theconstruction operations depends to a very large degree upon weatherconditions. The use of smaller transportable storage containers is noteconomically feasible because of the large space and material requiredthereby for storing large amounts of goods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a silo construction which will eliminate toa very large extent the above drawbacks encountered at the present timein the construction of relatively large storage installations.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide asilo construction which will enable the time required for setting up theinstallation to be reduced to a minimum.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a siloconstruction which will enable the number of required highly qualifiedskilled personnel at the mounting of the silo to be greatly reduced.

Thus, it is among the optics of the present invention to provide a siloconstruction the entire cost of which per finished cubic meter ofstorage space can be reduced substantially below conventional costsencountered at the present time for similar installations.

According to the invention the silo construction includes an outerframework and at least a pair of supporting rings carried thereby. Acontainer unit is composed of top and bottom components and acylindrical wall component extending therebetween, and this unit is madeup at least in part of a foldable sheet material. A clamping means isprovided for clamping the container unit to the supporting rings. Theserings take the form of upper and lower rings respectively situated atthe regions of the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical wallcomponent of the container unit. Preferably at least the top componentand cylindrical wall component of the container unit are made ofprefabricated foldable sheet material composed of a plurality of. layersof woven synthetic yarns, with these components being completelyfinished at the manufacturing plant prior to setting up of the silo atthe final site thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings which form part of this applicationand in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary top plan view schematically illustrating a siloof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional elevation of the silo of FIG. 1 taken alongline IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates in a partly sectional fragmentaryelevation a detail showing the connection of the top component of thecontainer unit to a central ring which surrounds the filling opening ofthe silo;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation schematically illustratingdetails of the manner in which the cylindrical wall component of thecontainer unit and the outer periphery of the top component of thecontainer unit are connected to supporting rings; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic sectional elevation, taken in a planecontaining the central axis of the silo and illustrating the bottom endof the silo and a valve means for controlling the flow of goods out ofthe silo.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, there isillustrated therein a single silo installation which, if necessary, canbe combined with additional individual silo installations to form acluster of the individual installations.

The illustrated silo construction includes a container unit made up of atop or roof component 1, a cylindri cal wall component 2, and a bottomor floor component 3. The bottom component 3 of the container unit formsthe silo outlet 8. A particular feature of the structure of theinvention resides in the fact that the top component 1 as well as thecylindrical wall component 2 are completely finished at a manufacturingplant, so that they are entirely prefabricated. These components aremade of a foldable or collapsible synthetic sheet material such as, forexample, a high-strength Trevira woven fabric. In accordance with theparticular requirements of a given installation this fabric can beprovided with a suitable coating on one side only or on both sides. Thethree components l-3 of the container unit are interconnected with eachother and carried by a pair of supporting rings 4 and 5 which in turnare carried by an outer steel framework 14 on which these rings 4 and 5are hung. The connection of the cylindrical wall component 2 and thebottom component 3 of the silo is brought about by way of a cylindricaltubular guiding portion 17 of the lower supporting ring 5, this portion17 being fixed to and extending upwardly from the remainder of the ring5. As is apparent from FIG. 4, the lower end of the cylindrical wallcomponent 2 surrounds and is in overlapping relation with respect to thetubular guide portion 17 of the lowerring 5, and a clamping ring 27surrounds the lower end of the cylindrical wall component 2. Tensioningscrews 16 extend through in openings of the outer flanges of the ring 5and are fixed to the clamping ring 27 to adjust the elevation thereofand thus adjust the tension on the cylindrical wall component 2 so as tocompensate for different degrees of axial stretching of the cylindricalwall component 2. Thus, it will be seen that the threaded portions ofthe tensioning screws 16 carry nuts below the bottom flange of ring 5for displacing the screws 16 with respect to the ring 5 so as to adjustthe tension of the cylindrical wall component 2.

A clamping means is provided for clamping the cylindrical wall component2 to each of the supporting rings 4 and 5. Thus, the upper end of thecylindrical wall component 2 is clamped between a clamping ring 7 of theclamping means and the upper ring 4, while the lower end of thecylindrical wall component 2 is clamped between the clamping ring 27 ofthe clamping means and the tubular guide extension 17 of the lower ring5. At each of its ends the fabric of the cylindrical wall component 2 isfolded back upon itself to form upper and lower annular loops. Anelongated elastic body of filler material is situated within and fillseach of these loops, this filler material taking the form, for example,of a hemp rope shown in the upper loop or the form of a curved elastictube 19 shown in the lower loop. This structure provides the cylindricalwall component 2 with upper and lower annular bulges so that the upperbulge can become situated in the groove which forms between the curvedupper flange 23 of the upper supporting ring 4 and the upper clampingring 7 while the lower bulge becomes situated between the tubularguiding portion 17 of the lower ring 5 and the clamping ring 27 also ina groove formed between these parts. The cylindrical wall component 2may be formed of a plurality of layers of the sheet material betweenwhich one or more layers of a compressible material such as strips offelt are located, and these intermediate layers of compressible materialare situated at least at the region of the clamping rings so that inthis way damaging of the synthetic yarns by compression thereof isavoided. Moreover, the situation of the layer of compressible materialbetween fabric layers of the cylindrical wall component 2 assures atight sealing of the interior of the silo from the outer atmospherethrough the wall 2. The upper clamping ring 7 and the upper supportingring 4 are interconnected by way of a plurality of rows of screws 20.Two of these rows are illustrated at the upper portion of FIG. 4. One ofthe rows of screws is offset with respect to the other.

As was indicated above, the top component 1 of the container unit of thesilo of the invention is also made ofa foldable sheet material. This topcomponent 1 is of the tapered, frustoconical configuration illustratedin the drawings. The top component 1 is connected with the uppersupporting ring 4 by pulling the outer periphery of the top component 1around theupper outer peripheral edge of the supporting ring 4. Thebottom end of the top component 1 is also folded back upon itself toform an annular loop at the lower, larger end of the top component 1.This loop is also filled by an elongated flexible component such as arope 15. Suitable tensioning screws or the like are connected to ends ofthe rope 15 at the bottom end of the top component 1, where these endsproject through an opening in the lower annular loop, and by way of suchtensioning screws the rope 15 at the bottom end of the top component 1is pulled so as to be placed under tension and so as to draw the lowerperipheral edge of thetop component 1 inwardly under the outerperipheral edge so that the top component 1 will automatically conformexactly to the configuration of the supporting ring 4 in order to form atight connection therewith.

The top component 1 is formed at its central region with a fillingopening, and at this filling opening the structure of the inventionincludes a ring 6 which directly surrounds the space through whichmaterial may be supplied to the interior of the container unit 1-3. Forexample, pneumatic pipes or the like may communicate through the openingsurrounded by the ring 6 with the interior of the silo to. delivermaterial thereto. Such a pipe along which material is transportedpneumatically may be fixed directly to the ring 6. The ring 6 is itselfdirectly supported and carried by struts or beams 18 of the outerframework 14, and the top component 1 is clamped to the ring 6. Thus, asindicated in FIG. 3, a lower clamping ring may be situated beneath thering 6 to clamp the inner peripheral edge of the top component 1directly to the ring 6 at the lower surface of the latter. For thispurpose the inner peripheral edge of the top component 1 is also foldedback upon itself to form a circular loop in which a rope 15 is locatedto provide the central opening of the top component 1 with an annularbulge received in the groove which forms between the ring 6 and thelower clamping ring which clamps the inner periphery of the topcomponent 1 to the ring 6.

Thus, by way of the pair of upper and lower supporting rings 4 and 5 aswell as the ring 6 the container unit 1-3 is suspended from the outerframework 14 which preferably made up of prefabricated steel parts whichare assembled by suitable bolts or the like at the site where the silois set up. Where piles are used as a foundation to support the siloconstruction, the lower supporting ring 5 can be directly carried by topends of the piles which are elongated so as to extend up to the requiredelevation for this purpose.

The simplest embodiment of the lower or bottom component 3 of thecontainer unit of the silo construction is one where this bottomcomponent 3 is itself composed of a foldable sheet material in the sameway as the cylindrical wall component 2. Such a bottom component 3 isfixed in any suitable way to the lower supporting ring 5.

However, as is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, it is also possible toprovide a bottom component 3 of 'frustoconical configuration so as tomake it possible to provide for an easy discharge of bulk goods whichflows with difficulty and which has an inclination toward bridging, suchas, for example, moist sand. For this purpose the bottom component 3 ismade of metal and takes the form of an outer frustoconical element 9which has its larger upper end fixed directly to the lower supportingring 5. This tapering component 9 surrounds and is spaced from an innerfrustoconical element which has a lower end larger than its upper end sothat the inner member 10 is inclined in a manner which is the reverse ofthe inclination of the tapered member 9. The space or gap definedbetween the larger end 12 of the inner member 10 and the member 9 formsan annular outlet 8 through which the stored material can be dischargedout of the silo. In order to interconnect the inner member 10 with theouter member 9 as well as to support the inner member 10 connectingelements 21 are circumferentially distributed along the gap betweenmembers 9 and 10, these connecting elements 21 extending radially andbeing fixed at their inner ends to the bottom end 12 of inner member 10and at their outer ends to the inner surface of member 9.

Also, as is indicated in FIG. 4, it is possible to line the interior ofcomponent 3 with a covering 30 in the form of a woven sheet materialmade of synthetic yarn and having a frustoconical configuration, so thatthe entire inner surface of the bottom component is formed of a plastic.The covering 30 which is made of a woven sheet material consisting ofsynthetic or plastic yarn may simply be placed against the outer wall ofbottom component 3 or may be adhered thereto with any suitable adhesive.

The flow of the goods out through the annular outlet 8 is controlled bya valve means 11 which includes a closure ring which in its closingposition directly engages the inner surface of the tapered,funnel-shaped outlet element 13 which is fixed to and extends downwardlyfrom the member 9. A hydraulic cylinderand-piston assembly 25 is fixedthrough suitable connecting components to the valve 11 for raising andlowering the latter, the hydraulic liquid being delivered to and fromthe hydraulic control 25 in any suitable way. This hydraulic unit 25 issupported on members carried by extensions of the connecting elements 21which extend along the inner surface of the inner tapered member 10.Also, as is schematically shown in FIG. 5, suitable guides extenddownwardly from member 10 and are engaged by guide rollers carried bybrackets fixed to the elements which serve to interconnect the pistonrod of assembly 25 with the annular valve means 11. A bellows or tubularflexible sheet 24 made ofa densely woven fabric is fixed on the one handto the base 12 of inner member 10 and on the other hand to the valvering 11 so as to prevent the entrance of air and moisture into the silo.Thus, the hydraulic control 25 can be actuated to raise the valve means11 from its illustrated closed position in order to discharge goodswhile this valve means 11 can be returned to its illustrated lowerclosed position engaging the funnelshaped outlet 13 in order to closethe outlet 8. The funnel-shaped element 13 is formed with a centraldischarge opening. Thus, the goods which are to be discharged willcollect in the funnel 13 to discharge out of the central openingthereof. As a result of this construction it is possible to providelarge and thus economical discharge rates of flow for the storedmaterials, and at the same time the formation of bridges of the storedmaterial within the bottom closure assembly is reliably avoided.

The prefabricated silo components occupy only a small volume when theyare transported, so that they can be transported to the constructionsite at a low cost. The assembly and mounting of the silo elements intothe finished silo construction requires only 20-30 percent of theassembly and mounting time previously required for silos of similarsize. A further advantage of the silo construction of the inventionresides in the ease with which it can be dismounted, so that the siloconstruction of the invention can be easily and quickly dismantled andagain set up at another location. The operations which are performed atthe mounting site, such as the setting up of the simple steel outerframework 14, the bolting of the pair of supporting rings 4 and 5 aswell as the assembly of the bottom component 3 can be carried out byunskilled labor under the supervision of one or two experts. The settingup of the silo construction of the invention takes place without anyscaffolding, inasmuch as the steel outer frame-work 14 itself serves asa scaffold and the assembly of the entire silo can take place from theground because initially the top component 1 is assembled at groundlevel with the upper supporting ring 4. After raising this latterassembly the cylindrical wall component 2 is mounted so that it isconnected with and extends downwardly from the upper ring 4 andthereafter the lower supporting ring 5 and the bottom component 3 areassembled.

The cylindrical wall component 2 which is manufactured from a circularlywoven tube of synthetic yarns is coated at the manufacturing plant witha suitable resistant material in accordance with the requirements whichare expected to be encountered during use of the silo. The circular yarnwhich surrounds the axis of the cylindrical wall component 2 is made ofa fully drawn synthetic yarn, in particular a preliminarily drawn yarn.The axially extending yarn which is normal to the circumferential yarnand extends parallel to the central silo axis 22 is interwoven with thecircumferential yarn so that each axial yarn portion extends half-wayaround each intersecting circumferential yarn portion. Thus the axiallyextending yarn will interconnect the individual circumferentialextending yarn portion and the axially extending yarn is not fullydrawn. In this way circumferential stretching of the circumferentiallyextending yarn, stressed by forces perpendicular to and extendingradially from the central silo axis 22, is substantially less than thelongitudinal stretching of the axial yarn in a direction parallel to thesilo axis. In the event that the stored bulk material forms bridges inthe interior of the silo, the increase in the vertical frictional forcesat the cylindrical silo wall result in localized stretching thereof,bringing about in this way caving in and collapse of any bridges ofmaterial which may happen to form. This action results in a furtheradvantage in that the forces which by reason of the frictionalengagement of the stored material with the cylindrical wall 2 aretransmitted to the upper supporting ring 4 are substantially less thanin the case of a rigid silo wall so that the outer framework 14 has amuch more favorable static load with the construction of the inventionthan with conventional silos which have rigid walls.

What is claimed is:

l. [n a silo construction, an outer framework, at least a pair ofsupporting rings carried by said outer framework, a container unithaving top and bottom components and a cylindrical wall componentextending therebetween, said unit being composed at least in part of afoldable sheet material, and clamping means clamping said unit to saidrings, said cylindrical wall component of said container unit havingupper and lower ends, and said rings being respectively situated at theregions of said upper and lower ends of said cylindrical wall component,said cylindrical wall component being composed in its entirety of aflexible fabric sheet material, and said clamping means clamping thelatter sheet material to said rings with said sheet material beingtensioned between said rings by the action of said clamping means.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein at least said top andcylindrical wall components of said container unit are prefabricated andin the form of a foldable coated sheet material made up of wovensynthetic yarns, and said cylindrical wall component being a seamlesstube.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said cylindrical wallcomponent has a central axis and includes circumferentially extendingyarn surrounding said axis and axially extending yarn interwoven withsaid circumferentially extending yarn with each axially extending yarnportion extending approximately half way around each intersectingcircumferentially extending yarn portion, said circumferentiallyextending yarn being drawn and being strong enough to withstand theexpected silo stresses while providing for the cylindrical wallcomponent a capacity for circumferential elongation which issubstantially less than its capacity for axial elongation.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said bottom component of saidcontainer unit includes a woven sheet material made of synthetic yarnand having a frustoconical configuration, said supporting ringsincluding a lower supporting ring to which said bottom component isfixed.

5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said bottom component has afrustoconical configuration and opposed upper and lower ends with saidupper end being larger than its lower end, one of said supporting ringsbeing a lower supporting ring to which the larger end of said bottomcomponent is fixed, an inner frustoconical member surrounded by andspaced from said bottom component to form an annular gap therewith, saidinner member having upper and lower ends with said lower end beinglarger than said upper end thereof, and a plurality of radiallyextending connecting mem: bers distributed circumferentially along saidgap and fixing said frusto-conical members to each other, said gapforming an annular outlet, a tapered substantially funnel-shaped memberfixed to and extending downwardly from the smaller end of said bottomcomponent to receive material flowing through said outlet, and annularvalve means situated in the region of said outlet for closing andopening the same.

6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said top component of saidcontainer unit is formed with a central filling opening, and a ringclamped to said top component at said filling opening thereof, said ringbeing carried by said outer framework.

7; In a silo construction, an outer framework, at least a pair ofsupporting rings carried by said :outer framework, a container unithaving top and bottom components and a cylindrical wall componentextending therebetween, said unit being composed at least in part of afoldable sheet material, and clamping means clamping said unit to saidrings, said cylindricalwwall component of said unit being composed ofsaid foldable sheet material and having an upper end folded back uponitself to form an annular loop at the upper end of said cylindrical wallcomponent, an elongated elastic body of foldable material situated inthe interior of said loop to form an annular yieldable bulging portionat the upper end of said cylindrical wall component, said clamping meansincluding a clamping ring clamping said upper end of said cylindricalwall component to an upper one of said supporting rings, the latter ringforming with said clamping ring a groove which receives said annularbulging portion at the upper end of said cylindrical wall component.

8. In a silo construction, an outer framework, at least a pair ofsupporting rings carried by said outer framework, a container unithaving top and bottom components and a cylindrical wall componentextending therebetween, said unit being composed at least in part of afoldable sheet material, and clamping means clamping said unit to saidrings, said supporting rings including a lower supporting ring situatedadjacent a lower end of said cylindrical wall component of said unit,,said clamping means including a clamping ring clamping said lower endof said cylindrical wall component to said lower supporting ring, andmeans operatively connected with said clamping ring for shifting thelatter.

9. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said cylindrical wallcomponent is made of the foldable sheet material and is folded back uponitself at its lower end to form an annular loop at the lower end of saidcylindrical wall component, an elongated body of filler materialsituated in said loop to provide said cylindrical wall component with anannular bulging portion at its lower end, and the latter bulging portionof said cylindrical wall component being situated between the lowersupporting ring and said shiftable clamping ring.

10. The combination of claim 5 and wherein two rows of screws to connectsaid upper supporting ring and said clamping ring for clamping saidupper end of said cylindrical wall component therebetween, one of saidrows being offset with respect to the other, and said cylindrical wallcomponent being composed at least at said upper end thereof which isclamped between said clamping ring and upper supporting ring of aplurality of layers of sheet material with at least one layer ofcompressible sheet material situated therebetween.

11. In a silo construction, an outer framework, at least a pair ofsupporting rings carried by said outer framework, a container unithaving top and bottom components and a cylindrical wall componentextending therebetween, said unit being composed at least in part of afoldable sheet material, and clamping means clamping said unit to saidrings, one of said supporting rings being a lower ring, said bottomcomponent of said unit being made of a substantially rigid,self-sustaining material and being fixed to said lower supporting ring,

screws coacting with said clamping ring for adjusting -the positionthereof along said guide portion of said lower supporting ring fortensioning said cylindrical wall component.

1. In a silo construction, an outer framework, at least a pair ofsupporting rings carried by said outer framework, a container unithaving top and bottom components and a cylindrical wall componentextending therebetween, said unit being composed at least in part of afoldable sheet material, and clamping means clamping said unit to saidrings, said cylindrical wall component of said container unit havingupper and lower ends, and said rings being respectively situated at theregions of said upper and lower ends of said cylindrical wall component,said cylindrical wall component being composed in its entirety of aflexible fabric sheet material, and said clamping means clamping thelatter sheet material to said rings with said sheet material beingtensioned between said rings by the action of said clamping means. 2.The combination of claim 1 and wherein at least said top and cylindricalwall components of said container unit are prefabricated and in the formof a foldable coated sheet material made up of woven synthetic yarns,and said cylindrical wall component being a seamless tube.
 3. Thecombination of claim 2 and wherein said cylindrical wall component has acentral axis and includes circumferentially extending yarn surroundingsaid axis and axially extending yarn interwoven with saidcircumferentially extending yarn with each axially extending yarnportion extending approximately half way around each intersectingcircumferentially extending yarn portion, said circumferentiallyextending yarn being drawn and being strong enough to withstand theexpected silo stresses while providing for the cylindrical wallcomponent a capacity for circumferential elongation which issubstantially less than its capacity for axial elongation.
 4. Thecombination of claim 1 and wherein said bottom component of saidcontainer unit includes a woven sheet material made of synthetic yarnand having a frustoconical configuration, said supporting ringsincluding a lower supporting ring to which said bottom component isfixed.
 5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said bottom componenthas a frustoconical configuration and opposed upper and lower ends withsaid upper end being larger than its lower end, one of said supportingrings being a lower supporting ring to which the larger end of saidbottom component is fixed, an inner frusto-conical member surrounded byand spaced from said bottom component to form an annular gap therewith,said inner member having upper and lower ends with said lower end beinglarger than sAid upper end thereof, and a plurality of radiallyextending connecting members distributed circumferentially along saidgap and fixing said frusto-conical members to each other, said gapforming an annular outlet, a tapered substantially funnel-shaped memberfixed to and extending downwardly from the smaller end of said bottomcomponent to receive material flowing through said outlet, and annularvalve means situated in the region of said outlet for closing andopening the same.
 6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said topcomponent of said container unit is formed with a central fillingopening, and a ring clamped to said top component at said fillingopening thereof, said ring being carried by said outer framework.
 7. Ina silo construction, an outer framework, at least a pair of supportingrings carried by said outer framework, a container unit having top andbottom components and a cylindrical wall component extendingtherebetween, said unit being composed at least in part of a foldablesheet material, and clamping means clamping said unit to said rings,said cylindrical wall component of said unit being composed of saidfoldable sheet material and having an upper end folded back upon itselfto form an annular loop at the upper end of said cylindrical wallcomponent, an elongated elastic body of foldable material situated inthe interior of said loop to form an annular yieldable bulging portionat the upper end of said cylindrical wall component, said clamping meansincluding a clamping ring clamping said upper end of said cylindricalwall component to an upper one of said supporting rings, the latter ringforming with said clamping ring a groove which receives said annularbulging portion at the upper end of said cylindrical wall component. 8.In a silo construction, an outer framework, at least a pair ofsupporting rings carried by said outer framework, a container unithaving top and bottom components and a cylindrical wall componentextending therebetween, said unit being composed at least in part of afoldable sheet material, and clamping means clamping said unit to saidrings, said supporting rings including a lower supporting ring situatedadjacent a lower end of said cylindrical wall component of said unit,said clamping means including a clamping ring clamping said lower end ofsaid cylindrical wall component to said lower supporting ring, and meansoperatively connected with said clamping ring for shifting the latter.9. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said cylindrical wallcomponent is made of the foldable sheet material and is folded back uponitself at its lower end to form an annular loop at the lower end of saidcylindrical wall component, an elongated body of filler materialsituated in said loop to provide said cylindrical wall component with anannular bulging portion at its lower end, and the latter bulging portionof said cylindrical wall component being situated between the lowersupporting ring and said shiftable clamping ring.
 10. The combination ofclaim 5 and wherein two rows of screws to connect said upper supportingring and said clamping ring for clamping said upper end of saidcylindrical wall component therebetween, one of said rows being offsetwith respect to the other, and said cylindrical wall component beingcomposed at least at said upper end thereof which is clamped betweensaid clamping ring and upper supporting ring of a plurality of layers ofsheet material with at least one layer of compressible sheet materialsituated therebetween.
 11. In a silo construction, an outer framework,at least a pair of supporting rings carried by said outer framework, acontainer unit having top and bottom components and a cylindrical wallcomponent extending therebetween, said unit being composed at least inpart of a foldable sheet material, and clamping means clamping said unitto said rings, one of said supporting rings being a lower ring, saidbottom component of said unit being made of a substantially rigid,self-sustaining material and being fixed to said lower supporting ring,said lower supporting ring having a tubular guide portion extending intooverlapping relation with respect to a lower end of said cylindricalwall component, said clamping means including a clamping ring clampingsaid lower end of said cylindrical wall component to said guide portionof said lower ring, and tensioning screws coacting with said clampingring for adjusting the position thereof along said guide portion of saidlower supporting ring for tensioning said cylindrical wall component.